Dirty River Derby Part 1

It’s been a week of anticipation and a week of trash talk. Coming off a huge win in front of a massive crowd in the team’s inaugural home opener at Nippert Stadium, emotions were high. FC Cincinnati had made a statement to the USL and to the city: they had arrived. The preseason, those first regular season matches, and the home opener were now behind us. The next benchmark was approaching: Louisville City FC. Just an hour and a half down 71, it was only natural that LCFC would become a rival to the boys in orange and blue. It also helped that their fans have been very critical, to say the least, of FCC and its supporters. All in good fun, the banter between fans escalated this past week heading into the first round of the "River Cities Cup," or as fans started calling it: "The Dirty River Derby." The stakes were high. This wasn’t just game 4, this was the first match against Louisville and it was on our own home turf. 

We changed things up a bit on Saturday. Instead of Rhinegeist and our march up the hill, we opted for Mecklenburg Gardens and a march through uptown. The good folks at The Meck were wonderful hosts and kept the beer flowing as the crowd swelled from just a few to well over a hundred. 

Orion and Jeremy Bentley donning their custom Die Innenstadt jerseys as well as Orion's FCC shoes. Happy Birthday, Orion!

For me personally, I wasn’t sure that this week could top the feelings of the home opener. As I had remarked, that had been one of my greatest moments as a Cincinnati sports fan. However, as the time drew near, I found myself and the entire biergarten becoming incredibly excited. It became a frenzy as we gathered our things, unfurled the flags, began the chants, and started marching towards Nippert. 

Last week, 14,658 fans braved frigid temperatures to come out to Nippert. This week, the weather was far more cooperative. Mid 70s, bright sun, and blue skies all the way through the neighborhood. Chants echoed up University Ave., down Short Vine, and into the University. Just outside of Nippert’s gates, we waited for our friends in The Pride and our collective band of supporters then proceeded into the stadium’s entrance and into The Bailey. 

We sang the national anthem and raised our TIFO: “Bustin’ Barrels.” A play on the original Donkey Kong video game, it featured the hero Mario clad in orange and blue dropping a hammer on the villainous Donkey Kong in the Louisville colors of purple and gold. In the game, Donkey Kong would throw barrels in an attempt to stop Mario. In our case, the barrel served as a nod to The Coopers, currently the only “recognized” LCFC supporters group. A “cooper” is a barrel maker. Several Die Innenstadt members put a lot of time and effort into hand painting this TIFO (as they always do). It turned out great.

The TIFO: below and above.

The enthusiasm continued even as the section to our left filled with visiting Louisville fans. The smoke from the start of the game had barely settled when hometown hero Austin Berry drove in the first goaI. I wish that would have set the tone, but odds are if you’re reading this, you know how the game ended up. 

I’ll leave the play-by-play to those with more detailed insights, but I can tell you as a fan it was frustrating. Things just never seemed to come together like they had in past games. You’d see a chance forming only to watch it disappear or get interrupted by a staunch Louisville defense. 

Nevertheless, I’m incredibly proud of Die Innenstadt, The Pride, The Den, The Legion, and everyone in attendance (except for those of you who started "The Wave"). No one let up on the chanting and cheering as Lou City scored again, and again, and again. "Hat's off" to LC's Chandler Hoffman for scoring all three of the opposition's goals, a respectable feat.

Kudos as well to Louisville’s fans and supporters for making the trip. You folks showed up and brought a lot of energy and support for your squad on the road. Someone had to leave disappointed; I just wish it was you and not us. 

The section to the right of the lion featured a bottom half full of Lou City fans who made the trip up. Respect to Boston who kept waving his FCC flag in his season ticket seats that were invaded by visitors. 

All those Louisville supporters helped contribute to something big: Saturday night’s record setting attendance. Previously, the USL’s highest attended regular season game had been 20,231 at Sacramento in 2014. On April 16th 2016, at Nippert Stadium, FCC vs Louisville City drew 20,497 - a new regular season USL record (and more than double the amount Lou City has ever seen (you won this game, but I still have to gloat about something)). 

20,497 people packed into Nippert Stadium. Photo by Die Innenstadt member Mariana Lamping.

The attendance numbers were a beautiful silver lining to a frustrating match and I genuinely appreciated the nod and applause from the section of Lucy fans when it was announced. I hope the attendance stays high, I hope the people coming realize we have something special here. 

Even with a goal in stoppage time, FCC still fell by 1. What is there to say about a loss? You’d always rather win, but I can’t really complain. The environment in Nippert was electric and I loved that all our supporters stayed to still cheer on the team as they exited the field.

Some remarks from Forward Andrew Wiedeman:

1/2: Different class from @DieInnenstadt @ThePrideCincy @FCCTheLegion. Not many fans would cheer their team like that after a loss.

— Andrew Wiedeman (@awiedeman3) April 17, 2016

2/2: That support got us 2nd goal. Important that y'all know how much it means to the players. Keep it up- this is something truly special.

— Andrew Wiedeman (@awiedeman3) April 17, 2016

I also have to say that I loved the way the Louisville fans came out, that they traveled to support their team and were all incredibly friendly. A few stopped by to visit The Bailey once the match concluded. Those folks and all the others I met throughout the day were fantastic people. As I exited the stadium, every person I passed in a Lou City scarf said “good game.” Indeed it was and come June, I look forward to round 2 of 3, and for our own chance to support our team on the road. 

Joe Vala of the Lou City drum line stopped by after the match. A nice guy who we're excited to see again in June

Louisville, we’ll see you again in a few months. 

Until then, we’ll be at Rhinehaus this coming weekend to watch FCC take on Toronto II. 

More photographs from the march and the night at the bottom of this post.

Stand with Die Innenstadt, stand with Cincinnati.

Juncta Juvant. 

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.

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More photographs from the day:

Louisville Comes to Town, Travel Plans, and a Venue Change

1. Visitors From Downriver:

Rendering of Louisville City FC at Slugger Field via tv station WLKY. 

Louisville is an interesting city. With around 1.2 million in its metro area, it’s the largest city in Kentucky and known for horse racing, its Hard Rock Cafe, and college basketball parties. It’s also home to our inevitable rivals: Louisville City FC. LCFC has existed for one season longer than FC Cincinnati, they got in apparently before a metaphorical line was drawn between “authentic” and “plastic.” For tips on being an "authentic" fan, check out Sixth Day Soccer's excellent guide.

The city of Louisville has been longing for a major league sports franchise for some time. The Kentucky Colonels of the old ABA never made it to the main league, the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies chose Tennessee over the land of Colonel Sanders, and the NHL’s Blue Jackets settled in Ohio instead of the “Ville.” The place has also seen its fair share of indoor football teams and various minor level ice hockey teams over the years while the mainstay Bats play in the International League of AAA minor league baseball. They’re an affiliate of our major league Cincinnati Reds and play their home games at Slugger Field, where they’re also landlords to their tenant: Louisville City FC. 

I spy a hidden baseball diamond.

Like FCC, the Lou City organization has higher ambitions. Despite what some want to believe on Twitter, Lou City would also like to make it to Major League Soccer someday. The organization’s motto of “pro soccer, pro city,” reflects these ideals. Some hope, perhaps one day, that LCFC could be the major league team that Louisville has always desired. The one that ups their image into the next tier of American city. 

Let's be honest for a second and show respect when it’s due. Louisville itself is a great place and the Louisville City FC organization (as well as their supporters groups) have had great results at the ticket window, in the stands, and on the baseball field. Before FCC was announced, I’d been following LC’s first season. I enjoyed watching it, seeing how things developed, and how people rallied around that team (and continue to do so). Their fans aren’t particularly fond of FC Cincinnati and maybe that’s due to the perceived threat to their own MLS ambitions, regional proximity, or delusions of grandeur. Either way, the two teams will meet for the first time this Saturday at Nippert Stadium. 

Louisville's fans and supporters groups (such as The Coopers) are passionate, both about their team and social media. They love to tweet about FC Cincinnati almost as much as their own team, and anyone who dares relocate their plaque eight feet suffers their wrath on the Internet.

A quote from the Louisville Courier Journal.

Speaking of that season ticket holders plaque, we may get one for Nippert. We’ll have to make it much larger though, instead of 1800 initial season ticket holder names, we’ll need room for over 5,000.

You might remember back in March, The Coopers offered up their idea of what FCC would look like.  We responded in kind; here’s a quick recap of that:

View fullsize

Louisville coach James O' Connor.

• Louisville's best player and fan favorite, Matt Fondy, left for Jacksonville and the NASL.
• Their coach has lots of pro soccer experience and is apparently easily sunburnt or a beekeeper (see above).
• They think FC Cincinnati has gone a little overboard on corporate sponsors, (meanwhile, their organization has the “yellow cards” and “red cards” sponsored),
• They believe that “established 2015” translates to “soccer was invented here.”
• Their pitch has real grass, but it's also a minor league baseball stadium.

Another criticism they liked to offer up against FCC was the price of a jersey from the team shop. Initially, a Cincinnati kit sold for $100 (the club lowered it down to $85 in response to fans). Louisville has been able to beat us at one thing for sure: their kits cost $101. 
 

The "Lucies" are coming into Nippert with the same record as the blue and orange: 2-1-0, six points apiece. Last weekend they overcame a deficit. Down by 1, they answered with four goals of their own to take down Orlando City B 4-1 in front of a crowd of 5,298 Meanwhile, FCC took down Charlotte 2-1 in front of a crowd of 14,658. If either team records a decisive victory on Saturday night, they'll jump ahead in standings and bragging rights. This match is the first of three meetings between us this season. 

Coming off the success and incredible environment in Nippert last week, we’re hoping to exceed even more expectations. The Bailey will be rocking once again and I’m sure plenty of Lucy fans will make the trip upriver to the big city. I really hope the Teletubbie guys are coming:

2. Travel Plans:

We'll also be heading down to Louisville on Saturday, June 25; here’s how to get your tickets so you can sit with fellow FCC supporters. 

Visit this link and use the group code FCC2016. Our seating area will be general admission so you don't need to worry about buying tickets at the same time as friends. The ticket comes out to $14.22 after fees and taxes. Check back soon for information on carpools.

All banter aside, I'm looking forward to seeing Slugger Field, the drum line, and the LCFC home environment (as well as FCC winning on the road). 

3. Change of Venue:

We’re also going to have a slight change of venue from here on out. Instead of Rhinegeist, we’ll now be meeting at Mecklenburg Gardens which has been kind enough to partner with us. Check out the details in the Facebook event here. Following the tailgate event we’ll be marching once again to Nippert, into The Bailey, and to cheer the good guys on to victory over our new regional rival friends. 

If any Louisville City folks are making the trip up, please feel free to join us at Mecklenburg Gardens, we’d love to have you and we look forward to a fun season/visiting you in June. 

This is going to be a big game folks, I'll see you at Mecklenburg Gardens and in The Bailey on Saturday.

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.

Out of the Basin, Up to Nippert: A Day I'll Never Forget.

Mo Egger is one of my favorite local sports writers. He gives an honest look at the events he covers. Occasionally, I’ll notice that he mentions “staring at a blank computer screen.” He uses that phrase to paint a picture of just how hard it can be to describe a team’s loss. From the Reds’ postseason woes, to UC’s basketball struggles, to the Bengals playoff game this past January. I was there for that particular Bengals defeat and it was toxic. Not just the game, but the environment. As we walked out of a stadium that was drenched in rain and beer, fights broke out, people tore down Bengals signs, and all around there was this dismal feeling. It had been building for a while, Cincinnati is a city that deeply cares about its teams and unfortunately has seen a lot of heartbreak in recent years. However, Saturday night was a totally different feeling and environment.

I found myself similarly staring at a blank computer screen on Sunday morning, trying to find my own words. Yet, I wasn’t looking for them in the wake of another sports letdown. I was still excited, still hearing the chants in my head, still sore from the march up all of those steps. Saturday night, the inaugural home opener, was beyond my expectations. So here it is, as experienced by Die Innenstadt:

Things started with our festivities at Rhinegeist. I walked in to find a room that’s always crowded and busy, but this time everyone was decked out in orange and blue. All around, people talked excitedly about what was to come while Blake and Jared diligently managed the distribution of scarves and memberships. The club had announced earlier in the week that they had surpassed 5,000 season ticket holders and were expecting at least 11,000 for the game, but even with a bar full of fans, I wasn’t sure what things would be like. Would people show up in the cold? Were they ready to embrace FC Cincinnati? Were WE ready?

WCPO stopped by to interview some of our guys: Ryan and Timo, president and vice president respectively. Folks gathered around, clinking their glasses to say cheers to this new beginning. The crowd swelled. We'd seen the boys in the preseason, on crowded barroom TVs for away games, but the time was finally nearing: the regular season had arrived in Cincinnati. On the heels of this city’s annual and beautiful holiday of Reds’ Opening Day, we were about to have ours. Finally the call went out: assemble outside if you want to march 1.1 miles uphill to the stadium. 

About 55 of us gathered and began marching up Elm. We hooked a right on W McMicken and caught the first set of steps up to W Clifton Ave. to Ohio Ave. Cincinnati is known for its collection of hillside steps, narrow passageways of concrete that dot the seven hills surrounding the urban core. We climbed another set to reach the upper part of Ohio Ave before continuing up Bellevue Hill. Timo took to the drums, everyone else took to chants, and as far down the steps as you looked: orange, blue, and Die Innenstadt.

This wasn’t a ragtag group of a few supporters, this was a community. At the top of the hill, nearly to our destination, we took a brief respite to refuel. In lieu of Gatorade, some of us chose Four Roses offered up from a member's nearby home. 

The march proceeded then into Clifton. More DI members joined us, some who weren’t able to make it down to Rhinegeist. Cars honked in support as we made the turn on to Calhoun. When we approached U Square, our chants began to merge with those in front of us: The Pride. The two Supporters Groups converged on the square, joining together and popping smoke under the waving of city flags. 

"Juncta Juvant," the city’s motto and ours, translates to “strength in unity.” We united with The Pride and nearly 100 supporters marched as one for the final leg down into Nippert.

The crowd was filling throughout as we all claimed spots in the stadium’s north end affectionately referred to as “The Bailey.” For many, it was a site to behold. While Nippert has always been a cherished venue for the University of Cincinnati’s football program, it was now our home too and it couldn’t have looked better. 

The teams filed out, the crowd erupted and the national anthem hit. I stepped away in order to get some photographs. As I stood at the top of the stadium’s eastern stands, I noticed just how packed not only Nippert was, but The Bailey itself. I had wondered: would all of the work supporters had done so far pay off? Would we have a good showing on the north end? 

It was packed. 

And it was beautiful. 

TIFOs were pulled out. On the left, the logo of the Pride with the word “Juncta.” On the right, our logo, with the word “Juvant.” Strength in unity. For several weeks now, members of both groups have been working together to hand paint these TIFOs thanks to the studio space and help of Jeremy Schulz. The center TIFO, designed by our own Christina Koplyay, read: “Defend the Queen City.”

As the TIFOs came down, the smoke and crowd lit up.  I had the honor of designing our logo back at the beginning of all this. Seeing it go from a frustrating morning spent in Adobe software to being unfurled like that was an incredibly proud moment for me personally. 

Levi captured some excellent footage of the opening ceremonies in this video, here:

So excited to be a part of history for Cincinnati. #FCCincy @DieInnenstadt @fccincinnati pic.twitter.com/Gvi2XSIStD

— Levi Bethune (@levibethune) April 10, 2016

I made it back in time to The Bailey just as the game began. 

A lot has been said about Saturday night’s crowd. As I looked out on the stadium, I noticed that, even in the sideline seats, everyone was standing!

My lovely girlfriend, Laura, joined us a bit later. She had been delayed in what apparently was a long ticket line. She wasn’t the only one, as the game went on (and Sean Okoli scored that “No. 4 on ESPN’s Sports Center” scissor kick goal), more and more people kept pouring in. The sideline stands and student section started to fill in very tightly. For a team that was expecting 11,000 in attendance on an unseasonably cold night, they ended up seeing 14,658. That’s not only the largest crowd in the USL so far this season, but FCC also drew better than four Major League Soccer sides (Colorado, New England, Dallas, and Chicago) did the previous week. 

It's also nearly double the attendance of Louisville's home opener and about 6200 more than their largest crowd ever, but who's counting? 

Between the constant chanting, singing, and cheering I tried to take a moment just to breathe it all in. I barely could before another FCC goal caused blue and orange smoke to once again fill The Bailey.

FCC had arrived, the supporters had arrived, and Die Innenstadt had arrived. Looking up from The Bailey’s front row I saw so many people. Friends old and new, those I had met years ago and those I had met through DI. It was an incredible feeling being able to gaze up and see how this community had come together. 

Words simply don’t do it justice. Photographs and videos give you a pretty good idea, but my best advice is to come experience it for yourself. In all of the Cincinnati sports moments I’ve watched, that inaugural home game may have been my favorite. 

As the extra time wore down, the entire stadium, not just The Bailey, erupted in a simple chant: “F. C. C.”  Nothing special, nothing too complex, but it got the message across. The collective voices rocked Nippert and sent chills throughout as nearly 15,000 people cheered on the end of that first home game and that first home victory. 

It meant a lot afterwards, the way the team came by to thank everyone in the stands, the way Coach Harkes pointed up and said “thank you.” It was great to get a win over Charlotte, but no matter the end result of Saturday’s match, I couldn't be more proud to be a member of this community, to support our team, and to support our city: THE Queen City. 

...and this weekend we get to do it all again. Stay tuned and check out the rest of the photographs in the gallery below. Thank you to everyone for all their hard work thus far. 

Stand with Cincinnati. Stand with Die Innenstadt. Juncta Juvant! 

EDIT: David Keim over at Sixth Day Soccer also recapped the night. Check out his excellent work, here.  

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.

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More photographs from the inaugural home opener:

Who's the Real "Queen City?"

Cincinnati and Charlotte: two municipalities who claim the title of "Queen City." Images via: Queen City Discovery and Expedia.

In 1854, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote of our fair city:

And this Song of the Vine,

This Greeting of Mine,

The winds and the birds shall deliver,

To the Queen of the West,

In her garlands dressed,

On the banks of the Beautiful River.

The largest western city of the United States at the time, locals took inspiration from his poem Catawba Wine and dubbed Cincinnati: “the Queen City.” Some people also refer to Charlotte, North Carolina as “the Queen City” since it was named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg, wife of Great Britain's King George III. The name was thought up by citizens loyal to the British crown. Ironically, Charlotte’s soccer team is named “Independence” despite playing in a city named in honor of the wife of a historical tyrant, one the United States sought independence from!

King George III was very much against american independence. Some North carolina folks were once really loyal to him and named a city after his wife, charlotte. Image Via: The "History" Channel.

Frankly, I think it’d be better if the team was named after the 1996 blockbuster film Independence Day. Their Supporters Groups could yell “welcome to earth,” and make TIFOs of Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman. Yet, it seems they’re sticking to the American Revolution theme, despite their city’s pro-crown past.

Although it'd be cool, charlotte independence isn't named for the hit film, "independence Day." Image via: Jeff Goldblum's private collection.

Affiliated with the Colorado Rapids, the team’s crest is emblazoned with 1775 even though the team was born in 2014 and first played in 2015 much like our friends down in Louisville. Unlike Louisville though, Charlotte doesn’t play in a baseball stadium. Like FCC, they’re coming into April 9th with a 1-1-0 record early in the battle of the Eastern Conference. FCC and Charlotte have a friendly wager over "the Queen City Cup," a trophy awarded to whomever wins both matches or qualifies higher in a complex system of rules detailed here.

So who’s the real “Queen City?” Maybe neither has a solitary claim to the name, but the two will do battle anyways this Saturday. It’s FCC’s inaugural home opener, right here in the true Queen City at Nippert Stadium.

If you happened to catch it back in February, I authored an editorial on my website, Queen City Discovery. I laid out why I'm supporting FC Cincinnati, how I became involved in helping to found Die Innenstadt, how I became a fan of soccer, and why I skeptically bought a t-shirt at the beginning of it all. Whether this team wound up being successful or faded like so many other minor league endeavors in the annals of Cincy sports history, I wanted the souvenir. Since I bought that shirt in August, so much has developed. From that first meeting of a few people on a cold night at Rhinegeist, to an exciting preseason, to marching at Bockfest, to the 150 members and growing that we have now: I never could have imagined how great Die Innenstadt has become already. Finally, we get to see the team play at their home stadium in a regular season game and continue to watch the club, the support around it, and the city grow.

I didn’t get to attend the friendly against Dayton last night, but from what I hear, it was a great time. Nick Listerman snagged a shot of how the stadium is shaping up in its soccer form:

Traditionally the home venue for the University of Cincinnati's football program, Nippert Stadium has been transformed to suit FC Cincinnati as well. Image Via Nick Listerman.

This coming Saturday, though, is the real deal. So here’s what we’re doing to commemorate it:

We’ll meet at Rhinegeist* starting around 3 PM. If you’ve already joined and have a scarf on order, you’ll be able to pick it up. If you’re looking to join (and eventually get a scarf), we’ll be selling memberships, but will have to put your name down for the next round of scarves. After enjoying several of the wonderful local brews that Rhinegeist has to offer, we’ll organize for the trip to Nippert and start marching around 5:15. We’ll be heading through Over-The-Rhine, up the Ohio Ave. steps to CUF, then into Nippert. The match against Charlotte starts at 7 PM. Please note that if you're planning on picking up your scarf this Saturday, we'll only have them available at Rhinegeist before the match. 

Scarves will be available for pickup at rhinegeist before the match. If you're looking to join Die Innenstadt, you can put your name on the list for the next round of scarf orders.

If you don’t want to do the march, you can always drive (parking options at UC), catch an Uber/Taxi, or hop on the No. 17 Metro (you can't take the streetcar uptown yet, you'l have to ask Mayor Cranley about that). 

I remember once seeing the Cincinnati Silverbacks indoor team play at the Gardens in the mid 90’s. I was six or seven. My father and I sat with a lone supporter behind the goal. Fueled by plastic cups filled with draft beer, he relentlessly heckled the opposing goalie by calling him “Opie” due to the name of "Howard" on his jersey (a reference to Ron Howard’s “Opie” character on The Andy Griffith Show).

Soccer in Cincinnati has evolved, as have its supporters behind the goals.  

Come be part of it with us.

Stand with Die Innenstadt, stand with Cincinnati. Juncta Juvant.

we all know who the real "queen City" is. Image Via Queen City Discovery

*Rhinegeist is located at 1910 Elm Street; not to be confused with Rhinehaus, our home for AWAY matches.

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.

Next Stop: Nippert

After a heartbreaking season opener last week, FCC bounced back against Bethlehem Steel in the second regular season game. We packed Rhinehaus while Ryan represented us on the road:

Ryan in front of the Bethlehem Steel plant. 

Scarves are also in (and they look damn good). If you've registered and paid, meet up with us at the next match to claim yours:  

Next stop: Nippert Stadium. FCC plays a friendly against the University of Dayton Men's Soccer Team on Tuesday night. Admission is free and the match starts at 8 PM. 

Then this Saturday, the club faces Charlotte Independence in the inaugural home opener at 7 PM. We'll be at Rhinegeist before marching up the Ohio Ave. steps.

Here's a look at how Nippert is shaping up with the pitch in place: 

Photo by Joe Scherpenberg aka @this_is_not_joe

The Face of Mitch Hildebrandt

Last night I had the opportunity to meet starting goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt. After the team spent the evening signing autographs for hundreds of fans who came out to the "Meet & Greet" at Rhinegeist, he was gracious enough to pose for this quick portrait. In the 78th minute of last week's inaugural season opener in Charleston, Mitch blocked an opportunity for the Battery from Romario Williams. At the same time, FCC's Paul Nicholson had been laying pressure on Williams and his knee collided with Mitch's head when the shot was stopped. Despite being down for several minutes, Mitch got right up and finished the match. 

Charleston would go on to win 1-0 in stoppage time, but the night saw an impressive performance from Hildebrandt who received a black eye and stitches. On top of that, he's set to start Sunday against Bethlehem. 

A 27 year old originally from Livonia, Michigan, Mitch played his college career at Oakland University. Professionally, he's appeared with the Kalamazoo Outrage, Michigan Bucks, and spent the 2012-2015 seasons with Minnesota United FC before landing here in Cincinnati. 

Like the chant says: Mitch "don't mess around."

Photograph by Ronny Salerno

And so the Season Begins

The City of Cincinnati flag flying in Charleston, South Carolina. Photo by Ryan Lammi

Saturday was a beautiful day, the kind that makes you think Spring has finally arrived in Cincinnati. Down in South Carolina though, the weather was a stark contrast to the blue skies of the Queen City. Thunderstorms were rolling in over Charleston, a ten hour drive from the packed confines of Rhinehaus. Once the weather delay passed, the stream kicked in, the teams started taking the field, and the bar erupted in joy. 

The 2016 regular season, FC Cincinnati's first, was beginning. 

By now, you already know the result: a 1-0 loss via a late Charleston goal in the 94th minute. When it all ended, I honestly can't say I felt disappointment. At least not in the way I've felt it as a Cincinnati sports fan before. 

I was there when the Reds went down in that lone 2010 home playoff game against the Phillies. I fell into sorrow when they dropped the playoffs to the Giants in 2012. I nearly wept after that disastrous play-in game at Pittsburgh in 2013. I've watched The Bengals blow playoff games with regularity and just a few months ago, I sat in the rain at Paul Brown Stadium as our NFL team continued their trend. In the wake of FCC's regular season opening loss, I've heard a lot of opinions amounting to: "well, that's Cincinnati sports for you." I don't buy into that. 

Would a win have been nice? Absolutely. 

Would it have made a statement? Certainly. 

However, things looked pretty good for an expansion team still starting to gel.

Maybe the game would've been different had the rain held off. Several attempts looked promising only to end in players falling and throwing up splashes of water as the barroom crowd exhaled in disappointment. It's on to Bethlehem from here. 

What made the night great in spite of defeat was how things came together. The real season had begun, the team we've been rallying around was taking the field. We came together as supporters for something other than a preseason friendly. We stood together, shoulder to shoulder, eyes glued to the projector screen as we chanted, cheered, and raised our glasses. That moment when the game started: it was fantastic. Fantastic to be there in the heart of the city. Fantastic to be there supporting something in unity. As a Cincinnati sports fan, it was a moment to remember.

I asked on social media: how did everyone else take in the game? @theliammalone reported via Twitter that Molly Malone's in Covington was just as packed with fans viewing the game on almost every screen. Others journeyed to places like Fifty West. Bob Brumberg remarked: "Finally, here we go," while catching the last twenty minutes on his phone. My buddy Matt Wilkes opted to stay in for the night, watching the stream from home with a cold beer. Tyler Hoefinghoff watched from his dorm room at Ohio State. Casey Grady may have been the farthest reaching fan as he streamed the game on his phone all the way in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Some saw it in person.

Welcomed by The Regiment, a Charleston Battery supporters group, a few Die Innenstadt members made the 600+ mile journey to the game itself. Ryan, Jocelyn, and Justin joined The Pride on the road. They stopped in Asheville, NC along the way to break up the drive by visiting breweries and eating delicious food. In Charleston they prepared with rain ponchos and beer, joining The Regiment for a tailgate at MUSC Stadium, one of the first soccer specific stadiums in the country. Among the typical tailgate offerings, Battery supporters inserted some local flair with blue crab and Frogmore Stew: a boiled concoction of shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausage.

How The Regiment does a tailgate. Photo by Ryan Lammi

According to those on the trip, "The Battery fans were extremely friendly" and couldn't have been a better group to "welcome us into the USL." Despite Charleston donning black and gold, colors found to be vile amongst most Cincinnati sport fans, the fine folks down there were kind enough to invite FCC supporter's to the Three Lion's Club after the match. 

Inside the Three Lion's Club, a bar within The Battery's home of MUSC Health Stadium. Photo by Ryan Lammi

Back in Cincinnati, we cheered when catching a glimpse of our fellow members on screen:

It's a solid start to the season despite the outcome. The boys travel to Bethlehem for a match this Sunday. They'll take on another expansion side who just opened the season in Montreal, winning 1-0. FCC might not have been able to start the regular season with a win, but maybe this Sunday they'll be able to rout Bethlehem in the Steel’s first ever regular season home match. When it all goes down, we'll be back at Rhinehaus. 

See you at Rhinehaus on Sunday.

...then it's on to Nippert. 

As the Preseason Ends, Supporters Rally at Xavier

This past Friday was a test. A test for the team and supporters alike. FCC was coming "home" so to speak, even if the preseason friendly against Xavier University's men's soccer team was technically an "away" game. After watching them go undefeated in preseason games via online streams and Twitter, this was the first chance for most of us to see them play in person, in Cincinnati, and to gather for a live match. 

Members of Die Innenstadt, The Pride, and The Den gathered at Listermann's before the match while sharing beers and ideas. By 5:00 there was a large group. By 5:30 it was a packed house. The fine folks at Listermann's kept the beer flowing, the line moving, and even offered up tours of the brewery. 

At 6:30, the crowd migrated to the sidewalk along Dana Ave. and began the first march. Flags waved, chants were tested, and cars honked in support as a sea of fans in orange and blue made the ten minute walk to the Xavier soccer stadium.

Finally, it was happening.

When the club was announced last August, I would've never imagined being part of a community like this, marching together with so much energy, excitement, and enthusiasm. If this is what a preseason match was like, I can't wait to see what the regular season brings. 

Supporters took up the southern end of the stands. The Die Innenstadt banner was raised and as FCC and Xavier's players entered the pitch, the crowd erupted. Finally, it was time: FCC was in Cincinnati. 

Die Innenstadt as seen in the club's video recap.

The national anthem played and we sang along. As FCC began battling in their fifth and final preseason contest, the supporters started up. So many people have put forth time and effort to help develop this community so far, but Friday was the first time to really workshop chants and come together as a group in a match day setting You can only come up with so many ideas while sipping beers in a bar or over the internet. The first real game environment provided the proper space to exercise several chants and for supporter's to unite. Some folks were brave enough to throw something out there and see what stuck. Many chants caught on naturally, developing as the game unfolded. At one point, a chorus of "Oh, Canada" broke out after mistaking Jimmy McLaughlin for Jamie Dell, but there were some successes too. The night at Xavier offered a platform for everyone to try things out and somewhat streamline the creative process.

Some highlights include, this one from Claire:

"We love you, Cincy, we do! We love you, Cincy, it's true! We love you, Cincy, we do! We love you, Cincy, orange and blue!" 

Following McLaughlin's goal and the one scored by Okoli from Dell, we channeled nostalgic, local sports talk radio with:

"Heeeeyyyyy! We don't, we don't, we don't mess around, hey!" (x3)

At the first sight of Omar Cummings' taking the pitch:

"Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Rhyme, get on up, it's Omar time! Goooooo Cummings!"

...a reference to his Jamaican heritage and the third greatest* film of all time, "Cool Runnings."

In the future, we'll offer up a page defining chants and their lyrics as they come along. Want to get involved or have a great idea? Join us. 

Friday night wasn't the culmination of everyone's efforts, nor will the first USL home game be. One of the things I loved seeing that night was how much Die Innenstadt has already grown and evolved in such a short time. From an idea posted on Reddit by Ryan, to a chorus of "we don't mess around" proclaimed by everyone that has come together so far. Things will only continue to grow and evolve just as this club will. Friday wasn't the final piece of the puzzle, the largest crowd, or the most important game, but it was a great start. 

This coming weekend, FCC will play their first regular season and first USL matchup down in Charleston. Several folks are making the trip down South, but those of us staying here will gather at Rhinehaus on Saturday. Then it's off to Bethlehem for another away tilt. The team comes home and opens up Nippert with a friendly against the University of Dayton on April 5th. I think that game will be another good barometer, another chance to show how support is developing and it's our first chance to see the club play in their home.

Then comes Charlotte, the first regular season home game and another step in the evolution of Die Innenstadt, FCC, and Cincinnati. 

In the meantime, a look at some other things in development: special thanks to Jeremy Schulz for offering up his studio as a workspace:

Juncta Juvant!

Looking Back at Florida, Looking Forward to Louisville

The IMG Suncoast Preseason is behind us and FC Cincinnati emerged as the tournament's champions. Although not part of the regular season, the club drew against against Icelandic outfit KR Reykjavik while defeating HB Koge of Denmark and NYCFC of MLS. Looking forward, FCC will be playing Xavier University in a local friendly on March 18th at the University's field. For many, it will be our first chance to see the team play in person. We're hosting a gathering at Listerman's down the street beforehand. The club then opens up the regular season on the road in Charleston followed by a match in Pennsylvania against another expansion side, Bethlehem Steel. They'll return home for another college team friendly, playing against the University of Dayton at Nippert Stadium, and then a few days later host their first home league match against Charlotte Independence.

Champions of the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic. I'd say one trophy is better than none, eh Louisville?

The next matchup after that, though, will be an interesting one.  On April 16th FCC will meet downriver rivals Louisville City FC for the first time. The Coopers, an LCFC supporters group, recently posted up a preview of what this Eastern Conference matchup looks like on their end. We enjoyed it, but wanted to offer up our perspective of the impending rivalry as well.

Eastern Conference Preview: Louisville City FC

BACKGROUND:

While affectionately known as "the world's game," soccer was invented in Louisville. About an hour and a half down I-71 from Cincinnati, Louisville City FC is one of the longest tenured clubs in the history of the sport. Although they've (to borrow a quote from The Coopers)  "decided they're too good for our league," LCFC is a storied franchise donning a corporate “health and well-being company” sponsor on their kits. They play their games at the soccer specific Slugger Field, where they're also kind enough to share it with a minor league baseball team. 8,000 tickets constitutes a sellout. FCC is nearing half that number in season ticket holders alone.

Louisville Slugger Field in its soccer configuration. At least it has real grass, right?

PLAYERS:

Like many USL clubs that don't have a "2" at the end of their name, LCFC's roster is lined with a couple of players who (to quote the Coopers) "couldn't hack it in MLS." Chandler Hoffman, a forward, joined Louisville this past December after stints with MLS' Philadelphia Union, LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo. Defender Ben Newman appeared with the Colorado Rapids in one match and is also new to LCFC this year. Midfielder Andrew Lubhan appeared with the Harrisburg City Islanders (to again quote The Coopers: "that's not a compliment”), after trying out with the top league's Portland Timbers. Overall, the LCFC squad is staffed primarily with young talent that gave the club a truly impressive 2015 season. The team is lead by Matt Fondy, a standout in 2015 who scored 21 goals for the season including a hat trick this past September. Fondy has been a fan favorite and he'll be a a real challenge for the FCC defense.

EDIT: Nevermind, Fondy went to Jacksonville.

Although he did well in Kentucky, Matt seems to have a fondness for Florida. 

COACHING STAFF:

Louisville City is lead by James O' Connor, a former player in top Irish and English leagues as well as with Orlando City during it's pre MLS days. He became head coach of LCFC in 2015 and led the club through an exciting season that included two rounds of the US Open Cup, a friendly victory over MLS side Orlando City, and a decent showing in the USL playoffs. He's also apparently an amateur beekeeper:

Coach O' Connor is known for organizing strong defenses both on the field and against the sun. 

SUPPORTERS:

Although behind FC Cincinnati in season ticket holders, Lou City attracts several supporters groups who complimented the team's on field success last year. According to the team website, college students make up the Cardinal Crew, the Heretics are apparently known for their "hugs and off the wall" antics, the biblically inspired Derby City Ultras are "hardcore and unpredictable," and if you want plain old fashioned family fun check out "Scouse's House." Maybe the most well known though is The Coopers, a well-organized and vocal SG that is always organizing, coordinating, and refreshing Twitter. They're all part of what makes a match at Slugger Field so unique and have all helped create an experience that isn't just well known throughout the USL, but the greater soccer culture as well. While they've been overly critical of FCC's corporate sponsors, they'll make a road trip to Louisville an interesting time when my friends and I head down there in our all new 2016 Toyota Camry with 8-way adjustable driver's seat, V6 engine, and smart safety technology that we got at a very affordable price. 

We learned it from Louisville. 

Hey LCFC fans: Any of you heading up to Cincinnati? We'd love to share a beer with you at Rhinegeist before the match.

Special thanks to Tom Niehaus for his help with this post.

Bockfest 2016

Since 1992, Bockfest has been a Cincinnati tradition. The annual festival celebrates German-style bock beer and the coming of spring. Or in our case: the coming of FCC's inaugural season. We participated in this year's parade, marching from Arnold's downtown to Bockfest Hall in Over-The-Rhine. 

Special thanks to Boston for the novelty soccer balls as well as Christina and Jared for the banner!

Some photographs from the event: